Amsterdam (Rough Guide) - Martin Dunford [162]
Kids’ Amsterdam |
Parks and farms
The city’s most central park, the leafy and lawned Vondelpark (www.vondelpark.nl; see "The Vondelpark") has an excellent playground, as well as sandpits, paddling pools and a couple of cafés where you can take a break. De Vondeltuin, a café on the Amstelveen side of the park, rents out skates in the summer and is perfectly situated opposite the playground. Also in summertime, the open-air theatre, Openluchttheater, usually puts on some free entertainment for kids – mime, puppets, acrobats and the like.
Most other city parks offer something to keep children entertained, the best being the Gaasperpark, located about 8km southeast of the centre (metro stop Gaasperplas), which has a play area and paddling pools. In the Amsterdamse Bos (www.amsterdamsebos.nl; see "The Amsterdamse Bos") you’ll find playgrounds, lakes, cycle paths and a nature reserve with bison and sheep, and you can also rent canoes and pedaloes to explore the waterways, or visit the Geitenhouderij Ridammerhoeve (March–Oct daily 10am–5pm, except Tues; Nov–Feb also closed Mon; 020/645 5034, www.geitenhouderij.nl), an enjoyable mini-farm with a herd of goats and their kids. The visitors’ information centre near the Bosbaan entrance has a kids’ area and exhibitions about the park.
There are also plenty of urban farms dotted around the city – look in the phone book under Kinderboerderij for a full list. One of the best is the Artis Zoo Children’s Farm, which can be visited alongside a trip to the zoo itself; see "Artis Zoo" for details.
Kids’ Amsterdam |
Theatres, circuses and funfairs
A number of theatres put on inexpensive (around €3–4) entertainment for children most afternoons. Furthermore, a fair proportion offer mime- or puppet-based shows, suitable for English-speakers: check the children’s section (“Jeugdagenda”) of the monthly Uitkrant(see "Information"), and look for the words mimegroep and poppentheater. Public holidays and the summer season bring touring circuses and the occasional travelling funfair (kermis) to the city, usually setting up on Dam Square or in one of the city’s many parks. Lastly, check out the festivals listings in "Festivals and events"; many of them, such as the Queen’s Day celebrations, are enjoyable for kids too.
Circustheater Elleboog Passeerdersgracht 32 (Jordaan and Western docklands) 020/623 5326, www.elleboog.nl. This club runs regular courses for children aged 6–12 on how to juggle, walk the tightrope, unicycle and do conjuring tricks. Workshops also available for around €10 during school holidays. Students put on occasional shows at various venues around the city. Phone or email for full details of times and prices.
De Krakeling Nieuwe Passeerdersstraat 1 (Jordaan and Western docklands) 020/624 5123, www.krakeling.nl. Permanent children’s theatre, with shows for youngsters up to the age of 18, often with an emphasis on full-scale audience participation. Performances are mostly in Dutch, though the theatre also puts on a number of dance events which non-Dutch speakers will appreciate.
Kids’ Amsterdam |
The zoo and museums
A trip to Artis Zoo is one of the best days out for kids in the city. The ticket price includes entry to the zoo and its botanical gardens, the Zoological Museum, the Geological Museum, the Aquarium and the Planetarium. You can also go on a canal cruise; the Artis Express runs daily 10am–2pm every thirty minutes from Centraal Station to the zoo, including a detour through the city on the return